[Dj-Aj Posts: 57 Status: Offline I love kids' books!]

I have not (so far) written a picture book, but I see a lot of them up for critique in the Online Critiques section of the Blueboard. I was just wondering out of idle curiosity ― is there anyone who only got critiques on their book from this site AND got it published? 

[ButterflyGirl Posts: 545 Status: Offline @kidlitSarah sarahfloydbooks.com]

The Blueboards are certainly a great place to start! My own picture book projects need numerous rounds of revision, so for me it helps to begin with big-picture input from a wide variety of writer friends. After that, I prefer to fine tune with a few trusted critique partners whose work and experience pairs well with my own. (Two of my long term critique partners are friends I met here many years ago.)

Also, I learned to revise my own work more effectively by  critiquing other writers’ work. It feels good to reciprocate, and also helps me spot similar issues and glitches in my own work. Win-win.

[JulieM Posts: 987 Status: Offline WWW]

Same. Numerous rounds of edits with input from numerous sources.

[mrh Posts: 4,759 Status: Offline www.marciahoehne.com WWW]

is there anyone who only got critiques on their book from this site AND got it published? 

Solely? Probably not. Learning the craft and learning how to pursue publication (two separate things) are complex enough that almost all of us draw on multiple sources (classes, webinars, craft books, critique groups, beta readers, and more) and learn to harmonize the advice we get to maximize the benefit to our project. Most people develop relationships with a group or a few partners that they aim to make long term rather than relying *only* on one-offs.

Can a critique you get here help you improve your project significantly? Of course. Can a group or partner you find here grow into something long term that will eventually help lead one or both of you to publication? Definitely.

No one source, no matter how good, is likely to, or can promise to, get you there. If anyone does make such claims, run.

[Debbie Vilardi Posts: 7,007 Status: Offline Language is so cool! WWW]

Quite a few books critiqued here have been published, but I doubt we've been the only supports for any writer.

[Dj-Aj Posts: 57 Status: Offline I love kids' books!]

Thank you all for your replies! I was just wondering because some posts from the Critiques board here appear to indicate that the posters intend to use only this forum before sending their work out – I felt that unwise, and I just wanted to know if anyone had ever succeeded this way.

Thank you again!